Dear Best Friend,

I can already tell that I will hate everyone but you.
Sincerely,
Ava Helmer
(that brunette who won’t leave you alone)

We’re still in the same room, you weirdo.
Stop crying.
G

So begins a series of texts and emails sent between two best friends, Ava and Gen, as they head off to their first semesters of college on opposite sides of the country. From first loves to weird roommates, heartbreak, self-discovery, coming out and mental health, the two best friends will document every moment to each other. But as each changes and grows into her new life, will their friendship be able to survive the distance?

I Hate Everyone But You, the debut novel by two emerging major talents in YA, Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn, is a story about new beginnings, love and heartbreak, and ultimately about the power of friendship.

Other things that I love about this book is that, the story is simple and sometimes it feels like you’re reading your own email exchange to someone else. The story is straight forward and the conversation exchange are enjoyable to read. You’ll get the typical best friend stories, the secrets that only them can decipher. And you’ll get the best friend kind of advice which I think is adorable. These two (Ava and Gen) really caught my attention. They’re both lovely and they truly care for each other despite their distance. At this moment, I could say long distance is possible. 

Ratings

EXCERPT

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THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Ava
Helmer
<AVA.HELMER@gmail.com>

to Gen

1)  
Birth. I poop
inside my mom’s
womb. I obviously don’t
remember
this.
But I do remember all the
times my mom talked
about
it at
family events.

2)  
Kindergarten. I try
to sit
on the teacher’s
lap during
naptime.
She tells me that is
inappropriate.
In front of
the entire class.

3)  
Third grade.
Becky
Olsberg
and Laura Jenner
invite
me over for a playdate.
We share
secrets.
I confess
that
sometimes I eat flowers.
They
tell
everyone
that
I am secretly
a horse trapped in a girl’s body.

4)   All of middle
school.

5)   Jordan
F. asks me to
come over to his
house to ask me about
you.
(Did
I ever tell you this? I knew
you hated.

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Jordan F. so I might
have
kept that as
a silent shame until
now.
Oh,
no. What
if you DIDN’T hate
Jordan F. and I ruined your one
shot
at true happiness as
well
as any chance
of you
staying
in California for
college?
He goes to Stanford.
I love him so much.)

1)   Prom. You remember.

2)   Day
3 of rushing. When I find
out that only 3 of
10 houses want
me back. EVEN THOUGH THE
AVERAGE
IS 7!
Only
getting
asked
back to
3 houses in the second
round
is unheard
of.
I’m
mortified.

a. One of those houses,
Pi Phi,
is like
the COOLEST house
on campus, so they have obviously just invited me back
to be nice. Or
as a cruel joke.
(Please refer to

#3 above.)

I don’t even
want to
go back to rush.
If I do, I’ll feel
like I’m asking
for it. (Not
sexually;
I know
women
can’t
actually do
that.)

I want to cry,
but stupid Jessica won’t
leave
the room! A dead
person,
formerly
known as
Ava
Beth Helmer

P.S. I’m
already crying. Just
really
softly.

 

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Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>

to Ava

Are you kidding me???? I could have been
married to
Jordan F. by now?

My last name could
have
been Facker?

I’m never speaking
to you
again after this
utter betrayal.

Re: THE COMPLETE MORTIFICATION OF AVA HELMER (1999–PRESENT)

Gen Goldman <GENX1999@gmail.com>

to Ava

JK JK.
You told
me about that Jordan
F. thing immediately after
it happened.
You cried
on the way home and I bought you
fro–yo. Honestly,
I’m
the most hurt
you don’t remember the
fro–yo. I asked for
whipped
cream and
everything.

Take a deep
breath
and remember: college
students are idiots. You
wouldn’t trust these
girls to
make
you a coffee, why would you
trust
their character assessment?

Also, you
got asked back
to 3 houses! And
1 is cool?! Which
is a shock to me because
I assumed
all
sororities
are inherently UNCOOL!

Maybe this Pie
Phi
house is the coolest
because they have the
smartest
girls,
and those smart girls are
about
to see how insanely
awesome you are. Ever thought of
that? Harry
Potter was rejected
8 timesbefore Bloomsbury published
one of the greatest
gifts
to Muggle
kind.

Never give
up.
Never
surrender.

(Unless you
realize sororities are
lame and YOU don’t
want to
be a part of THEM.)

Gen

P.S. Now I really
want fro–yo.